Replaceable towel rod

ABSTRACT

A support means permitting replacement of a towel support rod including a pair of bracket support means mounted in spaced relationship relative to each other to define opposed axially aligned socket means, with the socket means detailed in dimensions for receiving and supporting opposite ends of the towel rod. The bracket support means includes means operatively associated with the towel rod whereby the towel rod can be displaced therefrom. One embodiment of the bracket support means includes an opening extending through at least one of the brackets, with one end of the opening defining a socket portion for receiving and supporting one end of the towel rod and with a second portion of the opening including internal threads for releasably receiving a threaded retaining element therein, whereby the towel rod can be axially displaced through the opening provided in the bracket support means. A second embodiment includes a pair of support brackets having axially aligned supporting sockets for supporting opposite ends of the towel rod, with the supporting sockets including formed channel means permitting the towel rod to be removed from or placed within the socket retaining means.

0 e Elite States Patent 11 1 1 1 Q A Handley June 12, 1973 REPLACEABLE TOWEL ROD [76] Inventor: Norman C. Haudley, 5855 [57] ABSTRACT Pinebrook Road NE, Atlanta, Ga. 30328 A support means permittmg replacement of a towel support rod including a pair of bracket support means Filed: P 1971 mounted in spaced relationship relative to each other [21] Appl. No: 133,959 to define opposed axially aligned socket means, with the socket means detailed in dimensions for receiving and supporting opposite ends of the towel rod. The [1.8- C]. t bracket support means includes means operatively as- [51] Int. Cl A47h 1/02 soeiated with the towel rod whereby the towel rod can [58] Field of Search 211/l05.l, 105.3, be displaced th f o embodiment f the 211/123, 16 bracket support means includes an opening extending through at least one of the brackets, with one end of the 1 References Cited opening defining a socket portion for receiving and UNITED STATES PATENTS supporting one end of the towel rod and with a second 1,117,771 11 1914 Boehm 211/123 Portion of the Opening including internal threads for 2,141,347 12/1938 Davis 211/105.1 eas y receiving a ea d r ning ele ent 2,374,787 5/1945 Spiegel 211/105.1 therein, whereby the towel rod can be axially displaced 170,288 11/1875 Miller 211/16 through the opening provided in the bracket support 916,417 B11110 211/16 mean A se ond embodiment includes a pair of up- 1,506,335 8/1924 Brown t 21 1/16 X port brackets having axially aligned supporting Sockets 22:31 21 for supporting opposite ends of the towel rod, with the 21825'469 3/1958 watkinslliijljj 115211/1053 supptming including fmned channel means 3,0091530 Marr 211/10s.1 Permming the mwel rod be from Placed Primary Examiner-Nile C. Byers, Jr. Attorney-Newton, Hopkins & Ormsby within the socket retaining means.

2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENIEBJUMZIH 3.738.498

INVENTOR.

ITTOPIVEKS REPLACEABLE TOWEL ROD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a replaceable towel support rod which can be removed and replaced in a bracket support means. More particularly, this invention is directed to a towel rod supporting structure for use in a bathroom which will allow the towel rod to be replaced should it become broken while in use.

Towels are normally supported by means of a towel rod which is supported between a pair of bracket support members, with each of the bracket support means including socket means for receiving opposite ends of the towel rod. The bracket support members are constructed of ceramic tile and are adapted to be secured in position in the tile wall of the bathroom. The bracket support means includes a base portion detailed in dimensions corresponding to the size of the tile utilized in the bathroom, with the base support means being readily received within a tile opening provided in the tile supporting wall.

In the past, should the towel rod become broken during use, it was necessary to remove one of the bracket support members from the tile wall. To remove a support bracket from the tile wall, the bracket was often broken during the process requiring a new bracket to be used. Further, in the replacing of the new bracket, it is necessary to utilize tile bonding material for retaining the new bracket in position within the tile wall. In utilizing the tile bonding material, it is necessary to allow sufficient time for the bonding material to set before the bracket will be secured in a proper towel rod supporting position.

Due to the above described process of removing a bracket utilized for supporting a towel rod, allowing the towel rod to be replaced, the cost and time for replacing a towel rod is excessive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above described disadvantages of the prior art towel rod supporting means have been overcome by the present invention which basically includes a bracket support element adapted to be inserted or supported within a tile wall of a bathroom. The support bracket includes an opening extending therethrough, with one portion of the opening including angularly disposed wall surfaces for supporting and retaining a towel rod in a set towel supporting position. The opening of the bracket includes a second portion formed of substantially circular wall surface portions with the circular wall surface portion including internal threads for adjustably supporting a retaining element. In utilizing the bracket support means of the present invention in supporting a towel rod on a tile wall, it is necessary to use only one of the tile support brackets having an opening and retaining element mounted therein.

A second embodiment of the towel rod supporting means utilizes a pair of bracket members provided with oppositely facing socket receiving portions for retain ing and supporting opposite ends ofa towel support rod with the sockets including channel members which are detailed in dimensions to allow a towel rod to be inserted therethrough into the socket receiving portion.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a bracket support means which can be utilized in combination with a bathroom tile wall for effectively supporting a towel.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bracket support means for supporting a towel rod whereby the towel supporting rod can be readily removed and replaced.

A further object of this invention is to provide a bracket support element operative for supporting one end ofa towel rod with the bracket support element including an opening extending therethrough allowing the towel rod to be axially displaced therethrough.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a bracket support means for use in a tile wall for supporting a towel rod with the support brackets including a releasably mounted retaining element permitting the towel rod to be removed or replaced relative to the towel supporting bracket.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a support bracket for use in supporting a towel rod whereby the support bracket maintains the towel rod in a set position.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a towel rod supporting bracket which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture and reliable in performance.

These and other objects and advantages of the details of construction will become apparent upon reading the following description of the illustrative embodiments with reference to the attached drawings wherein like reference numerals have been used to refer to like parts throughout the several figures, and wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the towel support brackets and towel rod, relative to a tile supporting wall structure;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken longitudinally through the socket receiving opening of the tile support bracket shown on the left of FIG. 1, with the tile support bracket and rod in an assembled condition;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the tile supporting bracket as seen from the left of FIG. 2 with the retaining element being removed;

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of a modified towel rod supporting bracket; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along lines 5-5 of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawing, the towel rod support means of the present invention will be described with reference to a conventional tile wall represented generally by the reference numeral 10, a pair of towel supporting brackets 20, 30 and a towel supporting rod 40.

As shown in FIG. 1, the towel supporting brackets of the present invention are adapted to be inserted and retained within the dimensions of a tile opening 11 provided in a tile wall formed of a number of vertically and horizontally oriented rows of tile elements 12.

The support bracket 20 includesa supporting base 21 provided with a substantially flat rear surface portion 22. The retaining base 21 and flat rear surface portion 22 are detailed in dimensions to be received within the opening 11 formed in the tile wall 10.

Bracket support member 20 includes an integrally formed projection 23 having a formed end portion 24. The formed end portion 24 is provided with an opening 25 extending therethrough. The axis of opening 25 is disposed substantially parallel to the flat rear surface portion 22. Opening 25 is provided with a first portion 26 having angularly disposed wall surface portions which are complementary to the surfaces of the towel rod 40. Opening 25 includes a second circular formed portion 27'. Second circular formed portion 27 includes internal thread members detailed for receiving a retaining element 28 having complementary external threads. The retaining element 28 includes a recessed slot 25 operative for receiving a tool member for adjusting the retaining element 28 relative to the threaded opening 27.

As shown in FIG. 1, the second towel rod support bracket 30 includes a base portion 31. The base portion 31 is detailed in size to be readily received within the opening 11 formed in tile wall 10. Bracket 30 includes an integrally formed projection 32 having a formed end portion 33. The formed end portion 33 includes a socket 34. Socket 34 is detailed in dimensions to include angularly disposed surface portions complementary to towel rod 40. Socket 34 extends approximately one-half the distance through the rounded end portion 33. Thus, the socket 34 presents a closed receiving means for receiving and retaining one end of the towel rod 40 to secure the towel rod against axial and rotary displacement.

In an assembled condition, the towel rod support brackets 20, 30 are secured in position within the openings 11 of the tile wall 10. When the support brackets 20, 30 are mounted in the tile wall 10, the opening 25 of bracket is axially aligned relative to the socket 34 of bracket 30.

After the support brackets 20, 30 have been mounted in position in tile wall 10, a towel support rod 40 is inserted in position by placing the rod through the opening of support bracket 20. After the towel rod 40 is inserted within opening 25, the towel rod is advanced axially toward bracket until the right end of the bracket is secured in position within socket 34. With the towel rod dill moved to an axially set position relative to the support brackets 20, 30 the retaining element 28 is threadably adjusted within threaded opening 27. With the threaded retaining element properly posi tioned within opening 27, towel rod 40 is secured in a fixed nonrotatable, nonaxially movable position within the brackets 20, 30.

Should the towel rod 40 become broken for any reason, the towel rod 40 can be replaced with a second towel rod by merely removing the retaining element 28.

After the retaining element 28 has been removed, the second towel rod is inserted through opening 25 a sufficient distance until opposite end is supported within the socket 34 of support bracket 30. After a replaceable towel rod has been moved to a correct position relative to brackets 20, 30 the retainer element 28 is again inserted within threaded opening 27 and secured to a set towel rod retaining position.

The support brackets 20, 30 are constructed of a ceramic material having characteristics similar to the tiles utilized in the tile wall 20. However, the support brackets 20, 30 could be constructed of any suitable material which would give the desired characteristics. The towel rod 40 vis constructed of any suitable material having the rigid supporting characteristics for supporting and retaining a towel thereon. In utilizing the concept of the replaceable bracket 20 of the present invention, it is only necessary-to utilize one bracket having a threaded retainer element 28. However, it would be possible to provide both of the support brackets 20, 30 with a replaceable retaining element 28.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 4 and 5, a modified towel rod supporting bracket 50 is provided for supporting the end of a towel rod 40 whereby the towel rod 40 can be displaced therefrom without removing any releasable retaining elements. The towel rod support bracket 50 includes a base portion 51 which is detailed in dimensions to be complementary to and capable of being readily received within the openings 11 provided in tile wall 10.

Formed integrally with and extending forwardly from base 51 is a projection means 52. Projection means 52 has an extended outer end which is provided with a substantially rectangular shaped retaining socket 53. Also formed within the projection 52 is a towel rod inserting and removing passageway 54. The towel rod retaining socket 53 is detailed in dimensions such that one end of a towel rod can be received and retained therein, as shown in FIG. 4. The towel rod inserting and removing passageway 54 is detailed in dimensions whereby a towel rod 40 can be inserted in or removed from the retaining socket 53. In utilizing the towel rod support bracket 50, it would be necessary to provide a second towel rod support bracket similar to bracket 50 with the retaining socket S3 and passageway 54 formed on an opposite side thereof whereby the two brackets can be supported on a wall with the retaining sockets 53 facing each other and coaxially aligned for receiving opposite ends of a towel rod 40.

The towel rod support brackets 50 are secured in position relative to a tile wall by applying conventional bonding means to the base portion 51 and placing the brackets 50 within opening 11 of the tile wall 10. After a pair of towel rod support brackets 50 are secured in a tile wall and aligned relative to each other, as described above, a towel rod can be inserted therein by orienting the dimensions of the towel rod to be received relative to passageway 54. With opposite ends of towel rod 40 oriented within passageway 54, the towel rod is moved in a clockwise direction within passageway 54, as shown in FIG. 4 until the towel rod is received within retaining socket 53.

Should a towel rod utilizing support brackets 50 become broken or damaged during use, the towel rod can be removed from brackets 50 by merely moving the towel rod in a counterclockwise direction through passageway 54 and replacing the broken towel rod with a new towel rod in the same manner as described herein above. 1

It now becomes apparent that the above described illustrative embodiments embodying the principles of the present invention is capable of obtaining the above stated objects and advantages. It is obvious that those skilled in the art may make modification in the details of construction without departing from the spirit of the invention which is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

- What is claimed is:

1. A replaceable towel rod comprising an elongated rectangular towel support rod, a first bracket support means defining a socket having an opening corresponding in size and shape to the cross-section of said towel support rod and adapted to snugly receive one end' of said rod, said socket being closed at one end, a second bracket support means defining a passage extending entirely therethrough, said passage comprising two aligned portions, the first portion being of a size and shape corresponding to the cross-section of said towel support rod and the second portion being circular in cross-section and internally threaded and of such a size as to permit the towel support rod to pass freely therethrough, means for supporting said first and second support brackets in fixed spaced position with the socket in the first bracket opening toward the second bracket and with the passage in the second bracket axially aligned with the opening of said socket, and with the first portion of said passage being on the side of second bracket which faces said first bracket, whereby said towel support rod may be inserted through said passage and one end of it may be received in said socket, said towel support rod being of such a length that, when so inserted and received, its other end will be located at the junction of said first and second portions of said passage; and a threaded plug removably fitting into said second portion for holding said towel support means in position in said brackets.

2. A replaceable towel rod as in claim 1 wherein said first and second bracket support means are fixedly mounted on a tile wall and wherein each such bracket support means comprises a retaining base having the same size and shape as the tiles of said wall said retaining bases being fitted into spaces in said wall. 

1. A replaceable towel rod comprising an elongated rectangular towel support rod, a first bracket support means defining a socket having an opening corresponding in size and shape to the cross-section of said towel support rod and adapted to snugly receive one end of said rod, said socket being closed at one end, a second bracket support means defining a passage extending entirely therethrough, said passage comprising two aligned portions, the first portion being of a size and shape corresponding to the cross-section of said towel support rod and the second portion being circular in cross-section and internally threaded and of such a size as to permit the towel support rod to pass freely therethrough, means for supporting said first and second support brackets in fixed spaced position with the socket in the first bracket opening toward the second bracket and with the passage in the second bracket axially aligned with the opening of said socket, and with the first portion of said passage being on the side of second bracket which faces said first bracket, whereby said towel support rod may be inserted through said passage and one end of it may be receIved in said socket, said towel support rod being of such a length that, when so inserted and received, its other end will be located at the junction of said first and second portions of said passage; and a threaded plug removably fitting into said second portion for holding said towel support means in position in said brackets.
 2. A replaceable towel rod as in claim 1 wherein said first and second bracket support means are fixedly mounted on a tile wall and wherein each such bracket support means comprises a retaining base having the same size and shape as the tiles of said wall said retaining bases being fitted into spaces in said wall. 